Oil Painting 101 - Direct Painting/ Alla Prima
This short article pertains to "Direct Painting", or "Alla Prima", which are usually done in one sitting. "Alla Prima" is Italian for 'All at once', or 'At first Attempt', and is usually applied to a white background, although may be applied to a toned surface if you prefer. It is a painting style that is done quickly, painting wet into wet. You will want to adhere to a few guidelines to help make the painting go easier.
Give Alla Prima a try. You should probably start with a small canvas, around 8x10, using a simple subject such as an apple with a simple background. Try and see the various hues (color), and values (darks to lights), and their relationship to one another. Values are what makes things look three dimensional. Plan your painting! Look at the colors closely and apply the bright, fresh colors first, working in the darker colors as you go, finishing with the darkest darks and lightest lights. Direct painting makes for a fresh, lively painting that can be exciting to do. Have fun! After all, that's what it's all about.
- Greg
- Paint from background to foreground. Although not a hard and fast rule, it's easier to paint from top to bottom and back to front.
- Paint from light to dark. Avoid mixing light colors into a dark mixture to keep the light colors fresh and less muddy.
- Vary your strokes for interest. Use long flowing strokes interspersed with short jabs such as the early impressionist painters employed.
- Save the highlights for last and make them thick. Light, as a rule, "sits" on top of things. Making these strokes thicker and with a lighter touch will give the illusion of light more convincingly as well as keeping them from getting muddied by the previous layer of paint.
- Color mixing may be done either on the palette or on the canvas. I use both techniques when painting in this style.
Give Alla Prima a try. You should probably start with a small canvas, around 8x10, using a simple subject such as an apple with a simple background. Try and see the various hues (color), and values (darks to lights), and their relationship to one another. Values are what makes things look three dimensional. Plan your painting! Look at the colors closely and apply the bright, fresh colors first, working in the darker colors as you go, finishing with the darkest darks and lightest lights. Direct painting makes for a fresh, lively painting that can be exciting to do. Have fun! After all, that's what it's all about.
- Greg